Blogs from Netherlands, Europe - page 2

On Thursday, after breakfast we waited for rush hour to be over. While in our room we watched as one of the large ketch exited through the swing gates at St Katherine's Docks right beneath our window. Fascinating!! Wethen walked to Tower Hill Underground and went into Picadilly via Embankment. Our main aim was to visit the three main books stores and stock up as books are so much cheaper here. Emerging into Piccadilly Circus made me feel like I was really in London!! We strolled along Picadilly to Waterstones which is huge. Here we found several titles. From there to Hatchard's a beautiful old book shop where we browsed and bought a few more. By this time we were feeling our age and so much walking was getting to us but we soldiered on to ... read more

We had an enjoyable meal in Herentals, slept very well after our long day in the saddle and woke declaring we wouldn't be doing any more 100km days. We had a leisurely breakfast at the hotel. It's hard not to overdo it when it's all laid out as a buffet but we rationalise the large intake against the energy we'll require for the days ride. Well, that's our story and we're sticking to it! We were on the road just after 8:30am and our route took us straight back to the canal we rode along yesterday. The plan today is for 64kms and 40kms of that is along the canal. Riding along, we discuss if we'll get used to the canals/rivers and not be so impressed as we are now. I think we might get used ... read more

Last night we discovered the main bridge we wanted to cross the Holland Diep on was out of action as a piece of it was missing! We used that bridge last September and it was sealed off but we were allowed over. Presumably it was unsafe then. Luckily we found this out last night and could plan a new route which was longer but still doable. When checking out of the hotel; this morning, the waitress said there was a ferry to replace the bridge so we decided to go for that as it would be great to cross the Holland Diep by boat. Back on Plan A. Later there was another ferry, The Queen Jacqueline, for a small river crossing. Lots of riding on dykes surrounded by water, boats of all types and wildlife galore. ... read more

Another lovely hotel last night and a very German breakfast this morning. Ham and cheese at breakfast just isn't right. The sun was shining brightly and yesterday's wet clothes were nearly dried and those that weren't dried in the first few miles of wearing. Before leaving we asked if the hotel still had the water wheel but it had been damaged by bombs in WW2 and never replaced. Within minutes of leaving the hotel we were in the Netherlands and cycling through Gangelt Wild Park, a nature reserve. We saw lots of horses today and foals with incredibly skinny legs. We crossed the Maas river on our first river ferry of the trip. It wasn't what we expected. We did a very similar route to this on our way home last year and it was a ... read more

Theft and Survival in Amsterdam - Piprey on wheels Life brings unexpected surprises which is a test to your life skills and survival. My experience in Amsterdam opened up a new outlook to the meaning of safe travel. Are developed countries safe? I was travelling in Eurostar from London St Pancras to Amsterdam Central. At Brussels, there was an announcement that there were thefts in the train and to mind the bags. I kept an eye on the big suitcase specially when the train stopped at the four stations. The laptop bag was on the overhead shelf to my right, just across while I sat at the aisle. I had a window seat but a lady from Israel wanted to cherish the abundant waters and scenic beauty of Dutch landscape. I had offered her my window ... read more